Couple Sealant Questions

[Norc]

You guys are awesome. What did newbies do before forums like this one existed? :bow:

I have a couple questions:

1. We recently had a friend install ceramic tile throughout our kitchen, back splash, living room, bathroom, garage entry, breakfast room, etc. The kitchen was grouted on Saturday approximately 4 days ago. I've decided to go with the Aquamix Sealer's Choice 15 Gold to seal the grout, but I was wondering if it was really worth the effort to wait an entire week to seal the grout. I've heard several of the pros on here recommend waiting an entire week before sealing the grout, although the directions on the bottles recommend 3 days. My wife is about to go mad if she doesn't get her kitchen back soon and since the bottle says 3 days she thinks I should have sealed it yesterday. I've been trying to hold her off for a week, but I'm afraid my time is running out. :)

2. While the grout has been curing I've noticed a couple splotchy spots in several of the grout lines. We live in Austin, Texas where the water is very hard. I think we may have spilled some drops of hard water on the grout while working on the other areas of the floor. What is the easiest way to get the spots out before I seal?

Thanks everyone,
Norc

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[Steven Hauser]

Hi there,

As long as you give me an assumed name when telling your wife, I agree waiting the 7 days. Aquamix is banking on the fact that most of the material actually dries rather than chemically cures. The fact is it is somewhere between.

It takes 28 days for concrete to cure and we used to say wait a minimum of 14 days before sealing tiles.

Use the fact that you noticed the splotchy grout as an example.

Actually what I like people to do is damp mop their floors with water for a week to make the grout really hard. This may help with the splotchiness.

Short of scratching the areas out that are splotchy I'd say they'll blend over time.

;)

[Norc]

Steven,

Thanks for the response. I'll try my best to hold my wife off a few more days. :crazy:

When you said you recommend people damp mop the floors with water for a week to make the grout really hard would I want to mop the floors with the hard water we have or use water that has been softened?

Norc

[Steven Hauser]

Sorry for the misspellings in the previous post.

Where are you and how hard is your water? BTW what will you use when it becomes a daily chore.

:)